The Philippine Online Chronicles

At least 36 people were abducted and later killed by armed men in a reported poll-related violence in Maguindanao.

According to Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 21 bodies (13 female and 8 male) have already been recovered.

Around 100 armed men reportedly abducted at least 40 people Monday morning. Sunstar.com.ph reported that Buluan vice mayor Esmael (or Ismael) "Toto" Mangudadatu was set to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) today. The victims were reportedly on their way to the Maguindanao elections office in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao to cover the filing of the COC of Toto, who will run for the Maguindanao gubernatorial race. Mangudadatu belongs to a clan which includes Congressman Pax Mangudadatu of the first district of Sultan Kudarat as well as Governor Suharto "Teng" Mangudadatu of the same province.

Among those reported killed were Toto’s wife Genalyn (or Jennalyn) Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, his sister, some relatives, a lawyer, and some civilians. They were all beheaded.

Inquirer.net reported that the following were found dead: lawyers Cynthia Oquendo and Connie Brizuela, Mr. Oquendo (Cynthia’s father), Bai Eden Mangudadatu, Rowena Mangudadatu, Manguba Bai Mangudadatu, and Farida Mangudadatu.

Inquirer added the names of the kidnapped persons: * Journalists Ian Tublan, Leah Dalmacio, Gina dela Cruz, Marites Cabutas, Bart Maravilla of Bombo radyo Koronadal; Joy Duay; Henry Araneta of DZRH; Andy Teodoro; Bong Reblando of Manila Bulletin; Mac-mac Areola; Jimmy Cabillo; and Nening Montaño of DXCP;

* Supporters and staff of the vice mayor, drivers Rasul Daud, Eugene Dohilyo, Chito, Abdula Hajdi and Patrick Pamansan; Wahida Ali Kaliman; Farida Sabdula; Zoraida Vernan; Victor Nuñez; certain Unto; Zaida Abdul; Pinky Balayman; Ella Balayman; Rahima Piopo, who came from Palawan; Farina Mangudadatu and Meriam Calico.

Asian Correspondent named Tublan as Ian Subang from Dadiangas Times, and added that Dalmacio was from Forum, Marites Cablitas and de la Cruz from Today, and Victor Nunez and Mac-mac from UNTV.

Mangudadatu told abs-cbnNEWS.com that he believes the abduction and killings were politically motivated. He added that his wife called him at 9:30 am saying that an armed group allegedly from the Ampatuan clan, a political rival, stopped them --Andal Ampatuan is the incumbent governor of Maguindanao, whom Mangudadatu is proposing to challenge in the elections. Mangudadatu also said that his wife told him that men were slapping them and demanding them to eat the COC forms. At 11:30, he received news that six of the passengers have already been beheaded.

“I cannot give you the exact number of all the dead persons but rest assured merong namatay, meron namatay (there were dead people) ang according to the information, some them were beheaded, some of them were shot to death and some of them sinagasaan (were run over)," Madaser Mangudadato (or Mangudadatu), assemblyman for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), told GMANews.TV.

Malacañang has already put Maguindanao under a state of emergency.

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